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Police investigate thefts from dozens of cars

More than two dozen cars were broken into in 24 hours, and Anne Arundel County police said some owners are part of the problem. All it takes is the lift of a handle and the thieves are in. Police said with one quick click of the lock button, car owners can better protect their property. About 95 percent of the vehicles targeted were left unlocked Thursday night.

More than two dozen cars were broken into in 24 hours, and Anne Arundel County police said some owners are part of the problem.

All it takes is the lift of a handle and the thieves are in. Police said with one quick click of the lock button, car owners can better protect their property. About 95 percent of the vehicles targeted were left unlocked Thursday night.

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"Please remember to keep your doors locked and remove any valuables from your car. Just hiding them under your seats or in your glove box isn't going to be enough, because if you forget to lock that car door, they're getting in and finding it," Anne Arundel County police Cpl. Jackie Davis said.

Roberta Rose, a resident, said her dogs started barking around 3 a.m.

"They woke me up and I got up and I didn't see anything," she said.

But once the sun came up, residents on Wall Drive found broken car windows. Fred Rose's truck was among the few smash-and-grabs. Now it's time for a new window and a few phone calls.

"I had to cancel bank cards, credit cards, all that sort of thing," Rose said.

Chris Donaldson, with W&W Auto Glass Service, said this seems to happen every year in communities like this one off the main drag.

"Usually, (it happens) around the time when the kids are out of school or (when) the weather warms up, we start to see an uptick in this sort of thing," Donaldson said.

Rose said he'll think twice next time he walks away from his truck.

"I will never leave my wallet out of my vehicle again," he said.

Police said some of the other areas hit are near Arundel Mills Mall and in Glen Burnie. There's no word yet on any suspects.

"Because of how widespread everything was last night, we do think it's different groups or different people. We don't think it's all related," Davis said.

The repairs aren't cheap. It could cost several hundred dollars, depending on the window.